Eagles Sign Animal Torturer Michael Vick: Take Action

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Forgive me for deviating from cat-related news today, but the topic transcends species and I need your help in communicating to the Philadelphia Eagles that animal cruelty is NOT OKAY.

Yesterday, the Philiadelphia Eagles signed sociopath animal torturer Michael Vick to a one-year, $1.6 million deal with a one year option. Here are the details as reported by AP:

PHILADELPHIA A remorseful Michael Vick wants a second chance and vowed to crusade for animal rights with the Philadelphia Eagles and knows he won’t be easily forgiven by fans.

“I know I’ve done some terrible things, made a horrible mistake. Now I want to be part of the solution and not the problem,” Vick said Friday, referring to his conviction for his role in running a dogfighting ring.

Vick was introduced by the Eagles a day after signing a one-year deal for $1.6 million with a team option for a second year for $5.2 million. None of the money is guaranteed, so the Eagles face no financial risk if Vick does not make the team.

As upset as I was that the NFL had reinstated Vick, I am livid that a team has actually signed him. Vick’s claims that he will crusade for animal rights fall on deaf ears in my household. He’s a sociopath with a multi-million dollar career at stake. It would be a far better deterrent for future dog fight promoters to see that Vick’s life was ruined by his actions, rather than seeing him serve a brief stint in jail and return to his former glory, making it all better by saying, whoops, my bad, sorry.

Sorry, Mike: in my book you don’t deserve a second chance.

Vick had hands-on involvement in his dog-fight operation, including killing some of the dogs. Rather than being put down immediately, the surviving dogs were rescued and are being rehabilitated. Here’s the story of Shadow, rescued by Best Friends Animal Society:

Shadow used to be so shy he’d hide in the corner and try to disappear. When he came to Best Friends he wanted nothing to do with anybody. He was completely shut down.

Not surprising when you learn what he’s had to live through. Shadow is one of the 22 dogs who came to Best Friends from the estate of former NFL quarterback, Michael Vick after he was arrested and charged with “conspiracy to engage in dog fighting in violation of the animal welfare act.”

Out of all 22 Vicktory dogs who came to Best Friends, Shadow was perhaps the most withdrawn. Everything terrified him. On his walks, he’d do a sort of commando crawl the whole way, staying as low to the ground as possible.

Wow, what a turnaround! It’s amazing what a little TLC can do (okay, a lot of TLC). Once Shadow came to realize that everybody wanted to love him and help him get better, he became a different dog entirely. Nowadays he loves visitors, walks, and all things fun. An amazing act of healing in a dog who used to think the entire world was one big scary problem to hide from.

Best Friends and Pit Bull rescue organization Bad Rap were two of the groups who helped rescue Vick’s dogs, and rehabilitation, though mostly successful, has not been easy. The scars were not only skin deep. The dogs were abused emotionally as well as physically.

Currently, the only outlets I know of to express your outrage to the Eagles, owner Jeffrey Laurie and coach Andy Reid is to 1) sign a petition and 2) send an email through their website. No, it won’t do any good, but I think it’s important to let them know that pursuit of the almighty dollar does not trump animal cruelty. If enough people voice their outrage, we might move a little closer in this country to implementing a zero-tolerance policy toward animal cruelty.